Living Well 60+ January-February 2014

2 8 JAN/FEB 2 0 1 4
Through the Eye of the Artist
Shapes and symmetry motivate local artist
by Thomas W. Miller Ph.D.
ABPP, Staff Writer
Seasoned artists create paintings
that capture natural beauty in their
art. At a recent art show here in
Lexington, I was drawn to a work
that encompassed the realism and
depth of flowers.
Elaine Hiatt, a local artist, says as
a child she never had an opportunity
for expressing her love of art.
She developed a feeling for art and
painting through the Osher Lifelong
Learning Institute (OLLI)
at the University of Kentucky, a
program that offers a variety of
programs for Kentucky residents
age 50 and older.
Hiatt first studied under Jennifer
Bacon. Several aspects of art
that are appealing to her include
repeating shapes, patterns and
symmetry. Colors are realized in
floral arrangements, particularly
colors that complement and enhance
each other. She also enjoys
textures, as well as presentation
and framing. Hiatt’s favorite objects
are flowers and landscapes.
She says she likes to “capture the
natural beauty of the flower.” She
often paints fresh flowers provided
and arrangements made by Mary
Neely at Artist’s Attic in Lexington.
Hiatt notes that she is still learning
and seeks eagerly workshops that
will add to her tool kit of skills.
She says she continues to search
and search for “the new and the
exceptional” and “loves learning
something new.” She appreciates
sharing ideas with other artists
through critiquing each other’s
work. She also enjoys sharing
her skills with other artists and
especially with her granddaughter,
Katie. When Katie was just 5
years old, she began painting with
Hiatt and is now a graduate of the
prestigious Savannah School of
Art and Design.
Art is powerful, not just for its
beauty or the talent needed for its
creation, but because it can cause
emotion, make social statements
and challenge preconceived ideas.
Of course, not all works of art are
intended to be so thought-provoking.
Hiatt’s artwork on display
does just that, though. Hiatt says
not only talent but tenacity lead
her to create the exact object of
her painting. She says many artists
don’t complete some of their
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